New documents submitted to the NSW Department of Planning reveal that Wenona, Redlands and St Ignatius' College, Riverview are planning on spending millions within the next year on state of the art facilities.

The other developments, which range from a "retail and hospitality" hub at Riverview to an "Olympic pool with underwater cameras and timers" at Trinity Grammar, are designed to lure new students that pay tuition fees of up to $30,000.

Wenona girls' school in North Sydney has lodged a development application for an indoor pool inside a new six storey building focusing on science and technology.

Despite the school offering to build a new pedestrian overpass for the general public, residents and council are still opposed to parts of the plans for the $40 million construction.

The impact on views, privacy, noise and the forced removal of trees in the area are all concerns, according to submissions to the planning department.

Two kilometres down the road, residents are concerned that they could be hit with noise and traffic problems as Redlands pushes through plans for a $46 million development of a "state of the art" performing arts centre and rooftop pool as part of a 20 year, $104 million redevelopment plan.

Lawyers for residents "who strongly object to the proposals", have been engaged according to submissions to the planning department. A spokesman for Redlands said the school was continuously consulting with the community.

According to the principal of St Catherine's, Julie Townsend, schools need to consider the concerns of the community, but expectations from parents had grown enormously – driving the demand for new facilities.

"The days when a decent education was good enough are over," she said.

Last week the Sun-Herald revealed that Dr Townsend's school was in a battle with residents, NSW Police and two local councils over a $63 million development of a pool and "world class 500-seater auditorium."

"We need to have an orchestra pit because our girls are developing those skills," Ms Townsend said.

"We need to re-develop our water polo pool because we have water polo players playing for Australia that can stand in our current pool."

At Trinity Grammar in Summer Hill, Ashfield council and residents accuse the school of "development by stealth" by skirting local planning regulations.

Trinity headmaster Milton Cujes said the school has always endeavoured to respond to any concerns raised by neighbours in a positive, constructive manner.

For months, residents and Ashfield Mayor Lucille McKenna have waged a campaign against the school's expansion.

"It's getting to the point where it is very difficult for residents to co-exist with these mega schools and their mega rich budgets and mega arrogant attitudes," said a Summer Hill resident who asked not to be named.

The principal of Riverview, Paul Hine, described his school "as its own suburb."

Significant parts of the campus were built in the 19th century, he said, "The walls are so thick it's difficult for Wi-Fi to penetrate."

Mr Hine said the pace at which many private schools were developing was down to the rapid speed of technological innovation.

"The drive in education over the last decade has been technology and a lot of the existing facilities act as constraint."

"Once you build there you are not going to build for the next couple of generations. They have to have maximum agility."

While Trinity, Riverview, Redlands, Wenona and St Catherines will spend up to $200 million combined, one Australian pre-school will spend that amount on one campus alone.

The Australian International School in Singapore will set a new world record for an early learning centre when its campus is complete in 2017.

The pre-school will offer one-year-olds access to a 22 metre swimming pool, a 470 square metre multi-function hall, five library and learning resource centres and a dedicated parent cafe.

The Sydney schools say the developments are funded by student fees and millions of dollars in donations. They receive between $5 and $10 million a year in recurrent state and federal government funding.

Dr Geoff Newcombe, the executive director of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, said that parents funded the facilities.

"They should be applauded for making the education of their children a high priority," he said.

Wenona was unavailable for comment.